Kyoto · SAKE TASTING

15 Sake Tasting in Kyoto to Build a Day Around

32 tours  ·  from $7

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 sake tasting justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings) - Pontocho: Narrow Lanes and a Second Meal
Drinking Tours, Evening Experiences, Food, Food & Drink, Gion District Tours, Kyoto Food Tours, Kyoto Night Tours, Kyoto Sake Tastings, Kyoto Tours, Sake Tasting, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

1.Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,762 reviews · from $163Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours eating through Gion and Pontocho with a small group of up to seven. Expect Kyoto vegetable dishes, local specialties, drinks, and sake tastings, plus stories about geisha districts, architecture, and Kyoto life from guides such as Jimmy, Emma, Rika, and Yuki.

“Ok experience. The guide was knowledgeable about the area. Too much politics were discussed for my taste,”

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3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings - The first tasting: learning to notice the differences
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3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

2.3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · from $84

Spend three hours in Fushimi with a certified sake sommelier. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, taste 10 carefully selected sakes, compare food pairings, and learn how to read labels and order with confidence. Guides such as Kyoko, Miyuki, Mai, and Shogo are praised for clear, friendly teaching.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at the Sake Insider Tasting Experience. The educators provided great knowledge on many varieties of sake and provided such a relaxing, informative and enjoyable experience all round.”

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Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery - Starting at Saga-Arashiyama Station
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tours, Arashiyama Monkey Park Tours, Breweries, Drinking Tours, Food & Drink, Kyoto Sake Tastings, Kyoto Temple Tours, Kyoto Tours, Sake Tasting, Tour Reviews

Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

3.Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkeys, or Secret Sake Brewery

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 886 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $87

Spend five hours walking through Arashiyama with a bilingual guide such as Karim, Francis, Tom, or Toru. See the bamboo grove, Nonomiya Shrine, Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Iwatayama Monkey Park, with an alternate route offering local lunch and sake tasting.

“Francis was an incredible guide! We learned a lot about Kyoto (and Japan in general). He was very accommodating and we all enjoyed talking to him. Would highly recommend!”

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing - The museum visit explains what is in your glass
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Kyoto: Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

4.Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Sake and Food Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Meet an English-speaking sake expert at Fushimi’s Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Walk through the brewing process, compare 10 or more sake styles, then taste them with otsumami in a dedicated room. You’ll learn how to read labels, choose hot or cold sake, and order with confidence.

“Kyoko was an excellent tour guide. Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about all things sake, she was a very kind and funny tour guide. Learned so much about sake, its history, and what kind exactly that I would like. Definitely would recommend this tour if you’re interested in sake and its history.”

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Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour - Inside the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
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Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

5.Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 623 reviews · from $98

Walk Kyoto’s Fushimi brewery district with a certified MagicalTrip guide such as Matt, Rika, or Yukari. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, pass historic Teradaya, see the Kappa Gallery, and finish with up to 18 Kyoto sake tastings at a local restaurant. Food costs extra.

“Rika was a wonderful tour guide. She spoke good English and was knowledgeable able sake. It was a fun few hours to figure out which kind of sake we prefer.”

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1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings - Seven tastings in 90 minutes
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1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

6.1.5-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings & Pairings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · from $68

In Kyoto’s Fushimi district, a certified sake sommelier leads you through seven carefully chosen sakes, traditional otsumami snacks, and simple ways to read labels and menus. The private tasting room keeps the session relaxed, while a take-home cheat sheet helps you order with confidence later.

“The lady running the tour was grate. Funny and knowledgeable. The pairings are vary well thought out”

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Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks - Arriving at the dedicated tasting room
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Kyoto: Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

7.Insider Sake Experience with 7 Tastings and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66

Meet an English-speaking sake expert in a dedicated Kyoto tasting room for seven generous pours, Japanese otsumami, and a practical lesson in brewing, flavor, food pairing, and bottle labels. Guides such as Mayo, Kotaro, Kiyomi, and Greg make this a friendly first step into sake.

“Mayo was our saki sommelier and she was engaging and very knowledgeable. Her selection of tastings was excellent providing different saki with a variety of polishing and how it affects the flavor. A great learning experience where you could determine what you personally like. First you did the tasting without food and then you tasted with food. Have a snack before you come so you can enjoy it a little bit more as saki can be strong in taste. Also we learned how to read the bottles. I would absolutely recommend this as it was an excellent price value. Lovely restaurants in the area.”

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Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House - The tea room and the way of matcha
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Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

8.Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 163 reviews · from $99

Spend about 50 minutes in a private Kyoto samurai house with a tea master and warm local hosts. Learn the matcha ritual, whisk your own tea, choose five sake shots or two Japanese whisky tastings, and pose in kimono or samurai clothing. The house is an eight-minute walk from Kyoto Station.

“The tea ceremony was beautiful and meditative. Such an incredible cultural experience that was definitely the highlight of our trip. The sake tasting afterwards was really great as well. We did the kimonos as well which I highly recommend! We loved that it was a private experience where you could relax, enjoy, and ask any questions you wanted. The hosts are amazing!”

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Advanced Kyoto Insider Sake Tasting Experience - What the sake lessons cover
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Advanced Kyoto Insider Sake Tasting Experience

9.Advanced Kyoto Insider Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $74

Spend two hours in Kyoto’s Fushimi district tasting 10 unusual sakes with a certified sake expert. Compare ancient brewing methods, inventive fermentation, and local-wood aging while learning how to read bottles and judge flavor. The small tasting room welcomes curious beginners but suits serious sake drinkers best.

“I recommend this tour to anyone who likes and drinks sake(nihonshu). You get an opportunity to learn from the best about how it's created and the different types. 10 out 10 would recommend.”

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Kyoto: Gion Evening Walk with Hidden Gems, Geisha & Sake - Meeting the guide on Shijo Kiyamachi
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Kyoto: Gion Evening Walk with Hidden Gems, Geisha & Sake

10.Gion Evening Walk with Hidden Gems, Geisha & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Walk Kyoto’s Gion district for 90 minutes with an English-speaking local guide, in groups of up to 10. See Hanamikoji Street, Yasui Kompira-gū, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, and Yasaka Shrine while learning about Geiko and Maiko culture and enjoying included local sake. Guides may include Shumpei or Nick.

“We had an amazing tour eventhough it was raining. Our guide was so nice, gave us a lot of insights in the culture and was interested in all of us. Because of the weather the streets were really quiet so we had an unique and beautiful experience of Gion. The sake was really tasty and we got the chance to meet some lovely people and have a drink afterwards. Would totally recommend!”

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Kyoto: Gion Geisha District & Sake-in-Hand Walking Tour - Gion and Hanamikoji Street set the tone
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Kyoto: Gion Geisha District & Sake-in-Hand Walking Tour

11.Gion Geisha District & Sake-in-Hand Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · from $27Best value

Explore Gion and Higashiyama on a 60 to 90-minute evening walk with guides such as Shumpei or Mune. Visit Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Pagoda, and quiet lanes while learning about geisha culture, samurai life, and Zen. Sake tasting is included, with snacks noted on some departures.

“We will always remember our nighttime tour of Kyoto. Thanks so much, Shumpei! We loved learning about Kyoto and visiting the shrines and temples.”

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Kyoto: Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour - 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours - Gekkeikan Ōkura Museum: start with the brewing process
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Kyoto: Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour – 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours

12.Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour – 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 36 reviews · 2h 30m · from $93

Meet your guide at Gekkeikan Ōkura Museum for a 2.5-hour tour through Fushimi’s sake district. Visit Gekkeikan and Kizakura, learn how sake is made, then sample 18 varieties at Fushimizu Sake Brewery Alley. Guides such as Yoshi, Akino, Kaito, and Masa add history, tasting advice, and local tips.

“This Sake tour will definitely be one of the highlights from my trip! Hanae was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide and provided so much historical context to the sake itself, and the area in general.”

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Private Sake Tasting in Central Kyoto with Sake Sommelier - Meeting Kenji near Shijo and Karasuma
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Private Sake Tasting in Central Kyoto with Sake Sommelier

13.Private Sake Tasting in Central Kyoto with Sake Sommelier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $85

Join Kenji, a certified international sake sommelier and former Hyogo brewery worker, for a private two-hour tasting in central Kyoto. You’ll sample several hand-selected sakes, learn how sake is made and ordered, and pair the drinks with Japanese snacks at a standing bar.

“What a great experience. We learned so much from Kenji and enjoyed ourselves immensely. If you're interested in learning about Japanese sake & nihonshu, then this is the tour for you!”

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Private Pewter Sake Cup Experience with a Kyoto Artisan - Step one: choosing a hammer and creating the pattern
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Private Pewter Sake Cup Experience with a Kyoto Artisan

14.Private Pewter Sake Cup Experience with a Kyoto Artisan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $144

At Craft Gallery SALUK, artisan Kanako guides your private group through hammering, filing, stamping, and polishing a pewter sake cup. Choose your own patterns, add initials or a date, then take home a 90 ml cup made by hand. The 2.5-hour workshop includes materials and ends at the studio.

“This was the most amazing experience!!! Kanako Kai was an amazing instructor who treated us with the highest level of hospitality. From start to finish the process was so engaging an our sake cups turned out great! The shop was beautiful and an amazing way to spend our last evening in Kyoto. Kanako Kai packed our cups up so beautifully and since we do not drink, she provided Green Tea for us to drink out of our new handmade cups. This is a must tour, please do not miss out of this. We now have a one of a kind souvenir that we will cherish forever.”

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Kyoto: Beyond the Insider Sake Tasting Experience - Ten pours with unusual brewing ideas
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Kyoto: Beyond the Insider Sake Tasting Experience

15.Beyond the Insider Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $66

Join a certified sake sommelier in Kyoto for 10 unusual sake tastings, from ancient-method brews to microorganism-based and local-wood styles. You’ll learn production basics, compare sake categories, and receive tasting notes in a private room. Beginners are welcome, but prior sake fans will find plenty to explore.

“Excellent presentation and description of the types of sake and their production process. Highly recommended!”

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Explore Kyoto

Pick a lane, a temple or a tea room.

The lanes

GionHigashiyamaWalking ToursNight WalksRickshaw Rides

Temples and shrines

Fushimi InariKiyomizu-deraKinkaku-jiNijo CastleZen Sitting

Tea and food

Tea CeremoniesMatchaNishiki MarketCooking ClassesSake Tastings

Out of town

NaraOsakaUjiSagano RailwayPrivate Car Days